The Baldwin-Whitehall Educational Foundation is the non-profit affiliate of the Baldwin-Whitehall School District. We inspire innovation and excellence in the school district through scholarship, faculty innovation grants, and by being active members of the community.

Seed Innovation Grants: Apply Now!

BWEF is offering three seed grants valued at up to $2,000 each in support of special projects, new initiatives, or innovative teaching programs that support the foundation’s goals of enhancing teaching and learning throughout the Baldwin-Whitehall School District!

This grant opportunity is open to all individuals employed by BWSD, including teachers, school counselors, library media specialists, paraprofessionals, social workers, and more.

Our innovation grants have created or supported:
  • Baldwin Bean
  • BHS Preschool STEM Night
  • BWSD Mobile Fab Lab
  • Curriculum-based Projects
  • Freshmen Frenzy
  • Inchy the Bookworm Vending Machine
  • Purple Pantry
  • STEAM initiatives
  • Student mental-health awareness
  • and more!
  • Dec. 8, 2024: Deadline to apply
  • Starting Dec. 23, 2024: All applicants will be informed of the decision.

Thank you for all that you do and we look forward to supporting you.

New Scholarship: Keith "Juice" Smith Memorial Scholarship
for the Performing Arts

BWEF is pleased to present the Keith "Juice" Smith Memorial Scholarship for the Performing Arts annually to a graduating senior at Baldwin High School who demonstrates an outstanding effort in the fine and performing arts. The scholarship will be valued at up to $2,000 each year and be awarded to a student who: 
  • has participated in a minimum of two musicals while attending Baldwin High School or has participated as an active member of the Highlander Marching Band and/or choir for at least two years,
  • and intends to pursue a 2- or 4-year degree in a performing arts major at an institution of higher education (example: theater).
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Keith "Juice" Smith

We are honored to present this scholarship and would like to thank the Smith family for the opportunity to honor "Juice" in this way. You can learn more about "Juice," details about the application requirements, and apply on the scholarship page.

Getting Creative at the Carnegie Museum of Art

As a thank you for providing complimentary face-painting during our mini golf outing, we donated to the Baldwin High School National Art Honor Society and it gave students an opportunity to visit the Carnegie Museum of Art in Oakland. Read about the experience in our latest edition of Headlines.

Officer Sluganski Campaign Reaches $75K Goal

Thank you for supporting the Officer Sean Sluganski Memorial Scholarship fund. With your help, we raised $75,000 in just over a year to reach the capital endowment campaign goal on Sean's birthday, Oct. 29.

BWEF would like to thank angel donors Carrie on Communication, Financial Fuel Services, and River Point Technology for their generous pledges to Sean's online birthday benefits. We'd also like extend a very special thank you to Mary Odato for hosting two social fundraisers in 2023 and 2024. Lastly, a heartfelt thanks to the nearly 300 individual donors who contributed to this campaign, some as far away as Arizona and Florida.

The scholarship will be awarded annually to graduating seniors of Baldwin High School in perpetuity who are pursuing careers in law enforcement, and ensure that we forever honor the memory and sacrifice of Officer Sean Sluganski (BHS '09, EOW '23).

Donations will still accepted to grow the fund and enhance the value of the annual scholarship, and there are multiple ways to contribute:
  • By check, payable to Baldwin-Whitehall Educational Foundation/Sluganski Scholarship
    and mailed to BWEF, 4900 Curry Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236.
  • By credit card, through our online donation system.
  • By Venmo, with a donation to @BWEF-Cares.

Thank you for your support.

Road Safety Signage Artwork Contest

BWEF has partnered with Baldwin Borough, Baldwin Township, Whitehall Borough, and their respective police departments, to host a road safety signage artwork contest to encourage safer and more responsible driving on our roads.  Signs will serve as a visual reminder to:
  • stop for school bus stop signs,
  • not exceed the posted speed limit,
  • and be a general public notice to exercise caution when operating motor vehicles in our communities.

The initiative was sparked by concerned community members and is supported by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Crash and Statistics report that states that 809 school bus drivers and passengers have been injured in Pennsylvania over the past five years. Collectively, our goal is to help ensure a safer environment for all of our children.

All artwork submissions are currently under review and we'll announce the winners very soon!

Establish a Scholarship?

Purple Pantry Donations
BWEF welcomes scholarship opportunities in the name of an individual donor, business, group, alumni, and/or community engagement opportunity with a minimum value of $500. Each year, we award several scholarships to graduating seniors from Baldwin High School through multiple scholarships, and thanks to our community partners, BWEF awarded more than $30,000 in scholarship value during the 2023-24 academic year.

The Purple Pantry provides clean clothing, personal hygiene supplies, and basic toiletries to students in a private setting so that homeless and the most at-risk students in the Baldwin-Whitehall School District will be put in position to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. BWEF hosts collection drives throughout the year and is available by appointment to collect items.


Pathways to Support BWEF

There are a variety of ways to support the Baldwin-Whitehall Educational Foundation. Whether you want to become a community partner, establish an endowment fund, attend/host a fundraiser, or join the foundation as a member, we are always looking for ways to expand our network and our impact. Contact us at [email protected] to start a conversation.
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